Rep. Peter Welch (D., Vt.), standing at center, with members of the NACDS board.

Rep. Brett Guthrie (R., Ky.) talks with NACDS chairman Alex Gourlay.

Amid the political turmoil in Washington and the unpredictability in the health care arena over the Affordable Care Act’s uncertain future, retail pharmacy operators and their customers are fortunate to have a powerful voice in D.C.: the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.

NACDS has been closely monitoring the turbulent health care debate, defending the position of pharmacy and advocating for the pharmacy profession’s ability to do more to help solve the problems of access, quality and cost of care.

To that end, NACDS has leveraged its longtime standing in the nation’s capital to build relationships with key decision makers in the Trump administration and members of the 115th Congress.

On top of ongoing staff work, NACDS president and CEO Steve Anderson in recent months has met with Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, and with other NACDS board members — including Alex Gourlay, current NACDS chairman and co-chief operating officer of Walgreens Boots Alliance; CVS Pharmacy president Helena Foulkes; George Riedl, president of health and wellness at Walmart; and Mark Panzer, senior vice president of pharmacy, health and wellness at Albertsons Cos. — has met with key legislators on Capitol Hill.